Just like any other scar, they’re caused by the body trying to repair its damaged skin, when the healing process is interrupted by infections, dirty skin, and irritation, your skin will develop scars. Once you’ve gotten your acne under control its important that you make strides to prevent any scar damage. Scars from acne can leave your skin dull by taking the proper precautions, once you’ve eliminated your acne, you will be left with clear, glowing skin. After all what is the point of getting rid of acne if you’re skin still appears damaged.

Preventing and Eliminating Scarring:

When attempting to fight scarring the most important thing for you to do is to keep your skin clean. Use a product that will remove dead skin so they don’t accumulate in your pores. Clogged pores will result in blemishes and acne outbreaks which leaves the skin prone to scars. Many of the treatments mentioned above for acne have also been proven to
be effective when it comes to scarring. Many store bought products and prescription treatments put emphasis on exfoliating. Be sure to use exfoliating products before you apply your cleansing products. By doing so you’ll open up the pores with the exfoliator, making way for the cleanser to do its job more effectively.

Treating and preventing scarring is very similar to the treatments used for acne. This is because they are based on the same concepts for the most part.There for, all of the treatments mentioned above for acne will also work when dealing with scarring.

What is acne? It is an inflammatory disease of the skin which is caused by the clogging of hair follicles (also known as pores). Hair follicles are found all around the human body except for the palms and the bottom of the feet. They are supposed to be where hair grows, although humans don’t actually grow hair in all of these areas.

No one is 100% sure why the hair follicles get clogged although there are several theories including genetics, hormonal changes, stress, and chemicals. We aren’t completely sure how it happens but we are sure that when the follicle gets blocked the oil glands continue to create sebum (oil which normally lubricates the skin) and since it has no where to go it builds up. This leads to the growth of bacteria which causes the acne that people despise so much.

Since acne is essentially caused by oil buildup, people with oily skin are more likely to get it. The most likely places to get it are those which contain the most oil glands such as the back, chest, shoulders, and face. The growth of the bacteria caused by the oil leads to swelling and the formation of acne lesions. People usually refer to these lesions as pimples, spots, and zits. Many people have these lesions at least for a little while during the course of their lives. Skin blemishes are common during acne and include blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pastules, nodules, and cysts. The former four are inflammatory and they are often what we see as pimples, redness, and bumps in the effected area.

Acne is the most common in teenagers, affecting about 85% of people sometime during their teens. It is not as common at other stages of one’s life although it is certainly possible to get it at any age (about 20% of all acne cases occur in adults), especially when hormonal changes are occurring (such as during menstrual periods and pregnancy). Most cases of acne are not severe, as only 15% seek medical attention and even all of those people don’t necessarily need it.

It is recommended to try home remedies or over the counter medication for at least a month before visiting a dermatologist (a skin doctor). Most acne doesn’t leave permanent marks (most of the time it is gone within 3 to 4 years) and once it is gone it is nothing but your past. There are a few very rare types of acne which are severe and may lead to disfiguration and pain.

There are tons of companies and people researching acne and discovering treatments for it due to the public’s demand for such information and products. Most people (especially teenagers) see acne as an embarrassing disease to have and there is a huge market for products to cover up or get rid of acne. The positive thing is that it is curable and it usually doesn’t last for too long. Also, there are more and more treatments, both home made remedies and artificial solutions coming out everyday.

Acne is something that you don’t necessarily need antibiotics or over the counter drugs to cure. There are many natural options for those who are wary of taking too much medicine. It all begins with whether or not you are getting the vitamins and minerals your body needs in order to keep your skin clean and healthy. You may want to take supplements for vitamin A, E, C (with bio flavonoids), and zinc as well as increase your intake of vegetables and fruits (many of which contain these necessary vitamins). Vegetables will also increase your fiber levels to help clean out your digestive tract (which can lead to a reduction in acne as well).

Other substances such as alpha hydroxy acids, salicylic acid or bovine cartilage, which are found in some lotions, are also known to help. Tea tree oil has a similar effect although it may take a little longer to generate results. Most of these substances have constituents which kill the bacteria which cause acne. There are also an extensive number of home remedies involving natural products that are found in the common household that may be a great alternative to traditional medicine. Several Ayurvedic (an ancient health care system, native to the Indian subcontinent) remedies are also available to help combat the horrors of acne.

Massaging the face regularly with herbal oil and applying a face pack with masoora, kushta, kaaliyaka etc. after every massage is said to completely rid an area of acne within seven days. Ayurvedic takes a very natural as well as spiritual approach to treatments, which is why so many patients feel calming effects afterwards.

You may be thinking why all of those products from the commercials haven’t been mentioned yet. There is a very good reason behind this: because a lot of those treatments contain substances which your body is not accustomed to. The thing to be cautious of if you seek natural treatment is not to get fooled by the conglomerates who say that their product is 100% natural, as a way to grasp the attention of potential customers. These corporations use terms such as “its all from the earth” to attract customers. The thing is, everything on the earth is from the earth and that doesn’t make everything safe.

Natural acne treatment is all about using things that your body is used to in order to cure your acne. This way, you are guaranteed that your body won’t try to fight the substances and make you sick, since it already contains these substances (such as vitamins).
Natural acne treatment is certainly possible and it has definitely worked for some. Every case is different though so if your acne is very severe then natural treatments may not work; sometimes antibiotics are necessary. But, for the majority of cases of acne it isn’t that severe so these remedies can certainly help. The great thing about these natural options is that they can be done to prevent acne as well, since they aren’t introducing anything new to your body; it is all just vitamins and minerals.

There are several different types of acne, some more common than others. Perhaps the most common (and the one for which most of the research is done) of all is Acne vulgaris. This type of acne is common in adolescents, especially boys. It is what most teenagers with acne have and it is caused by hormones, usually due to puberty. There are several different intensities of acne vulgaris, it is like a spectrum from very little to a lot. Mild to moderate acne vulgaris usually consists acne spots with blackheads, whiteheads, papules, and pastules. Everyone with a mild case will not have all of these types of acne spots. Usually they will only have one or two of these types. Those with more severe cases of acne vulgaris will have the aforementioned symptoms along with nodules and cysts, which not only look a lot worse but may also be very painful.

Rosacea is another common type of acne which is more frequent in middle aged adults. It is often confused with acne vulgaris, but has a few distinct differences such as the lack of blackheads and the visibility of blood vessels (not in all cases). Small red bumps are often visible and pus-filled pimples may also form.

Acne rosacea along with acne vulgaris, are fairly common and aren’t particularly severe compared to some of the other types of acne. The more severe forms of acne are rarer, but they have they have devastating and often irreversible effects. They often lead to disfiguration and excessive pains to those who get them.

Acne Conglobata is still technically classified as acne vulgaris, but its affects are much worse than that of the traditional type. Symptoms often include large lesions along with widespread blackheads. It can cause scarring and damaging effects to the skin, some which can never be cured. It is found almost everywhere on the body including the face, chest, back, arms, and thighs.

Acne Fulminans normally affects young men where as acne conglobata usually affects middle aged people. Scarring and disfiguaration are also common to this type of acne. A major difference between the two is that acne fulminans also induces a fever as well as aching of the joints.

A third severe type of acne is Gram Negative Folliculitis. This type of acne is caused by bacterial infection. Symptoms include pustules and cysts. Not much is known about this type of acne due to its rarity.

Pyoderma Faciale is also a very harsh form of acne that usually only affects women. Most of the acne is only on the face, but it often includes large (and very painful) nodules, sores, and pastules. Scarring is also common in this type of acne. Pyoderma faciale usually only lasts a brief period of time, but it can cover one’s face quickly and the effects can be horrible. Pyoderma like many of the other severe types of acne has everlasting effects and they can truly hurt a person’s esteem. It is a good thing that these severe forms are pretty rare.

Modern science has now brought about ways to treat acne in ways which were never thought possible before. One of the emerging treatment options is laser resurfacing. Sure it is a costly option, but it would be much faster than traditional treatments and as the procedure becomes more common over time the price should fall.

During acne laser treatment, short, concentrated beams of light are directed at the acne. These beams break molecular bonds in the skin, which leads to production of new skin. There are several different types of lasers currently being used including the Fraxel Laser, Affirm Laser, CO2 Laser, Erbium Laser, and the Pixel Laser.

CO2 laser acne treatment has been used for years. It is the most common of the laser treatments and there have been many newer methods which have been based off of it. The latest version uses ultrapulsed energy to precisely remove thin layers of skin with minimal heat damage. One thing to be cautious of is to make sure that the surgeon is authorized and has experience because just like a surgery it can be devastating if a mistake is made. It usually takes patients two weeks to recover after getting CO2 laser treatment.

Erbium laser treatment is similar to CO2 laser treatment except it is better for people with darker skin tones. The recovery time is also shorter due to less swelling and redness caused by the laser.

The Fraxel Laser is especially good to remove scars caused by acne. It is known to be effective at removing dead tissue as well as stimulating the growth and formation of new collogen (the main protein of connective tissue). The Affirm laser is very similar to the Fraxel Laser, except that it uses a microscopic thermal injury pattern to detect what areas the light has to be shown upon. Companies which offer Affirm laser treatment claim that this leads to a much more precise surgery which leads to shorter recovery times than the Fraxel Laser.

Pixel Laser treatment tightens up skin on the neck and around the eyes so that it can manipulate the tight collagen fibers in the skin. Skin is then removed with a dot Pizel hand piece. Damaged outer layers are removed as the laser passes over them. The heat from the laser acts as a catalyst for collagen and new skin cell production. The process takes about 20 minutes and the results are of equal caliber as traditional laser treatment (CO2 based treatment).

Laser acne treatment can be a great alternative to traditional medicine, but there are risks involved. Dermatologists usually recommend trying other methods first and saving laser treatment as a “last resort”. The treatments are also very expensive and often require several sessions.

Since acne is such a common thing many people throughout the ages all across the world have tried their own methods of trying to cure the ailment. Some of these methods help the person with the acne feel less irritation and helps them relax. Others reduce the swelling caused by acne and remove it and others may prevent it all together.

One of the more common home remedies is to cook oatmeal, apply it to the effected area, leave it on there for a little while and then wash it off. This helps clean the area as well as reduces irritation and itching (it is also used as a remedy for chicken pox).

There are several home remedies for acne involving a paste which is similar in viscosity (liquidness) to oatmeal. One of these is creating a mix of yeast and lemon juice and applying it to the acne. Mix 1 tablespoon of yeast with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and apply it to the effected area. Wait until the paste hardens, then peel it or wash it away with warm water.

You can also directly apply lemon juice (or apple cider vinegar) to your acne using a cotton ball. You may wash it off immediately or leave it on for a period of time (like overnight). Lemons help cure acne and reduce blemishes. Rose water also has similar effects as lemon juice, so you can do the same things with rose water as well or you may even want to use both rose water and lemon juice. Lime juice may work well, although lemon juice is more commonly used.

There are also many different fruits and vegetables which you can apply to redcue blemishes and blackheads. These include applying ripe tomato pulp, raw papaya juice, potato skins, blended cucumber, fresh garlic, ground radish seeds (with water), and mint juice with turmeric. These vegetables/fruits can be applied for as long as you want (leaving them on too long won’t hurt you) and they can all be made into pastes by blending if you desire. Applying a mixture of grinded nutmeg and milk has also had positive affects for people. Honey can also help because it naturally fights bacteria (which many types of acne are caused by).

To reduce swelling conventional methods such as putting ice on the acne may help. Several sources recommend icing acne before going to sleep. By the time you wake up the swelling should be less than it was when you went to sleep.

If you aren’t into putting things on the acne area, you may want to add a few things to your diet instead. Fresh vegetables and fruits can help your body getting the vitamins it needs to keep your skin (including any area infected with acne) clean and healthy. Drinking plenty of water is also a good idea.
There are many different options when it comes to home remedies of curing acne. There is something for everyone, you just have to try different things and see what works for you.

Some people get acne and others don’t. It may seem unfair, but it is a natural process and it is part of life. Exactly why this is true is unknown, but we do know that acne is partially hereditary. Some people just have it in their genes and it is one of those things they have to live with. The gene for acne hasn’t been found yet but several studies have shown traces of its existence. When the gene is found and isolated a permanent fix for acne may be developed, but until then learning about it and trying to prevent it is the best you can do. You can’t control your genes, but you can certainly alter your lifestyle to avoid some of the other things which cause acne.

Hormonal activity is probably the most infamous of these reasons due to the cohort of teenagers who get acne. Basically, when there is excessive hormone activity during times like puberty and menstrual cycles, it is possible for acne to develop. Stress can also lead to acne because it is caused by the adrenal glands, which also create hormones. There are several different types of hormones which can cause acne including androgens and estrogens.

Moving away from hormones, exposure to certain substances and chemicals can also cause acne. Bacteria such as Propionibacterium acnes produce substances which created irritation and inflammation. They also make enzymes (which trigger reactions) which makes the swelling worse. This all happens because the hair follicles, which produce oil to keep skin lubricated, get clogged.

Anabolic steroids, narcotics, and medication containing halogens and lithium are also known to cause acne. Many medications include these substances including things like birth control pills so you may get acne, especially when you start or finish using the drugs (since your body’s hormonal balance changes). Even chlorine can lead to acne so staying away from pools may help. Most of these chemicals create substances or trigger reactions which end up clogging the pores of your skin.

Cosmetics and hair products, especially those that are very oily (such as many lotions) may also clog your pores. This then leads to things like swelling, which we see as visible pimples.

Something that is more easily controlled that causes acne is one’s diet. Food that contains iodine, such as seafood, is known to make existing acne worse. Milk and dairy products have also been linked to cases of acne. Against popular belief, diet usually isn’t the cause of acne. Eating “junk food” such as chocolate and a lot of fats and sugars won’t necessarily lead to pimples. In fact, studies have shown that foods high in carbohydrates are more likely to lead to pimples.

What it all comes down to is the chemical balances in your body and whether or not one gets acne really depends on their body and how it functions. Everyone is a bit different so the same exact things may cause acne in one person, yet have no effect on another.